Father’s diet before conception plays key role in baby’s health: According to a new study led by McGill researcher Sarah Kimmins, father’s diet before conception may play an equally important role in the baby’s health as mother’s diet. The research focused on vitamin B9 (also called folate), which is well known to be crucial for a healthy pregnancy, and discovered that folate levels of the father are as important. The results indicate that fathers should pay the same attention to their lifestyle and diet before conceiving a child as mothers do.

The danger of noisy toys for child’s hearing:According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) some toys are so loud that they can cause hearing damage in children. For instance certain toy sirens or squeaky rubber toys can emit sounds of as much as 90 dB, comparable to a lawn mower. When such toy is held directly to the ear, as many children do, they can release as much as 120 dB of sound. Noise at this level is painful and can result in permanent hearing loss. The Sight and Hearing Association publishes a list of the noisiest toys every year in November to provide a guide before holiday purchases. Parents should check even existing toys at home and decide if their noise level are safe.

Four common habits helping to get the flu: Dr. Roshini Raj, a gastroenterologist at New York University Medical Center, points out four common things many people do that may increase their chances of catching a flu virus. First common mistake is using antibacterial hand gels, which don’t kill all viruses. “Studies have shown that many people don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom, coughing or sneezing, or even preparing food.” Raj said. “But even if they are washing, many people are not washing long enough. Twenty seconds is a good rule of thumb.” Other habits include overexercising, lack of sleep and rest, and smoking.

Chilled Fruit Salad with CoconutThis easy recipe for a chilled fruit salad with coconut chips and coconut water is a sweet, crunchy, colorful way to get your kids excited about eating a variety of fruit.